Wiki DOS for Home Health Certifications ??

[Orthocoderpgu]

Can someone verify for me the DOS that is to be used on home health certifications? There is some confusion because there is a date span for the certification period (usually two months). Some people want to use the certification period, others want to use the date that the physician signed the certification. Is there any documentation that can clear this up? Thanks for all of your help!!

 

[kbarron]

In March 2008 E&M services billing guide 10.4 states " The from date for the intial certification must match the start of care date which is the first billable visit date for the 60 day episode."

 

[Orthocoderpgu]

Thanks for that input. This one is not an intial certification.

 

[Erica1217]

You use the date that the physician certifies the plan of care; in other words it's the day her or she signs it. He or she shouldn't be signing the new plan of care until after 60 days has passed: "The home health agency recertification code is used after a patient has received services for at least 60 days (or one certification period) when the physician signs the certification after the initial certification period. The home health agency recertification code will be reported only once every 60 days, except in the rare situation when the patient starts a new episode before 60 days elapses and requires a new plan of care to start a new episode." http://www.cms.hhs.gov/manuals/downloads/clm104c12.pdf